e was dancing; and during the intervals
people laughed and sang, and made merry, while Landolin struggled with
rage and sorrow. Are these people here all snow-white innocents? Are
there not dozens of them who have much worse things on their
conscience?

He wished that he had power to rush in and crush everything under foot.

At other times a sadness came over him, and he thought: "Were I only in
prison, or, better still, not in the world at all."

But lest he should show his emotion, he leaned back, lighted his pipe,
and smoked with a defiant look on his face. "They shall not succeed in
making me eat humble pie."

At that moment merry laughter arose from the table where the people of
rank were sitting. "What does that mean? Are the great folks rejoicing
over my misfortune? No, that cannot be, for there sits the judge's
wife, with her son, the lieutenant."

CHAPTER LI.

At this table, which was spread with a white linen cloth, and decorated
with vases of flowers, the school-teacher was just saying:

"Yes, Madam Pfann, that is the hardest riddle hidden in the whole
history of man. Why can nothing but a myth or a people's war move the
souls of the masses? In a war the souls of nations see one another, if
one may say so, face to face."

He paused in the midst of his dissertation; for the lieutenant said in
a clear voice:

"The Frenchmen literally took us for cannibals. In a village near
Orleans, I went to a house and called; there was no answer. Presently I
saw a woman, sitting on top of the brick oven; I spoke to her
pleasantly, but she remained dumb, until, at last, I asked where the
children were. She looked at me in terror; and I said, laughing: 'Bring
me one, and roast it well. I want to eat it.' Then the woman laughed
too, and let the children out of the oven, where she had really hidden
them."

It was at this they had laughed so loud, at the great folk's table.
They were all pleased with the lieutenant, whose former wild boyishness
had changed to dignified composure. The eyes of the judge's wife danced
with a mother's pride; and if she was always thoughtful of comforting
and helping others, to-day she would have been glad to have poured joy
upon every one. But to-day no one needed her, for there was joy and
happiness everywhere. Just then she saw Landolin, and said:

"There sits the farmer of Reutershoefen all alone."

"It is well," said the district forester, "tha